I went back and re-read your comment. I agree with your point, and think failing fast and cutting losses makes sense. This isn’t what I think you were saying,

I went back and re-read your comment. I agree with your point, and think failing fast and cutting losses makes sense. This isn’t what I think you were saying, but I read it this way the first time - I wouldn’t let the fear of failure or achieving some end state stop one from trying to do something. I think instead it would make sense to build in exit points going into an experience, where you can check how things are going and exit gracefully rather than “quitting”. Recognizing when you go into a PhD program that one of the outcomes may be exiting after two years with a Master’s degree and being ok with that takes a lot of pressure off.